Martin Necas is on the last year of a two-year, $13 million contract, and many around the NHL world have wondered if or when the talented winger will sign an extension with the Colorado Avalanche. If he does not, the speculation is around whether the team will decide to trade him or let him walk to free agency at the end of the season. The longer that Necas goes without a contract extension, the more fans and the media will speculate whether his contract demands are preventing the Colorado Avalanche from being able to deploy their forwards as effectively as possible.
Necas wants to be first
One trait that Martin Necas does not lack is self-belief. He has always believed that he has both the playmaking and scoring skills to be one of the top wingers in the league. His speed, quick hands, and high hockey-IQ support that self-belief as he parlays them into high-level scoring chances and goals. That self-belief also tells him that his skillset means that he belongs on his team’s top line and top power play unit.
One of Necas’ biggest frustrations during his time with the Carolina Hurricanes was the lack of his regular usage on the top line next to Sebastian Aho as well as on their primary power play unit. Last season, he finally became a permanent member of the top power play group, but never saw significant minutes with Aho at 5v5.
Golden opportunity with the Avs
When he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche, it seemed like a perfect opportunity for Necas to show off his skillset alongside a like-minded player. From the start of his time on Nathan MacKinnon’s wing, it was obvious what a potent offensive impact those two could have with each other. Necas got his dream opportunity to be both a top-line player and a member of the number one power play with the Avs.
No interest in being second fiddle
After a quiet stretch from Necas last season, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar tinkered with his lines looking for a more balanced approach to scoring between his top two lines. Those changes saw Necas separated from MacKinnon and once again being the primary play driver on the second line. While he did put up some decent offensive numbers next to Brock Nelson, it was not as impressive as what he had been able to produce alongside MacKinnon.
Starting off hot
Martin Necas was reunited with Nathan MacKinnon on the top line to start the season and both players have produced extremely well together, tallying thirteen goals and twenty-six points between the two of them. Alongside Artturi Lehkonen, they have been one of the most dominant lines in the league at 5v5. Their combination of speed and vision has resulted in dominant puck-possession numbers as well as scoring chances.
Double down or spread it out
Despite the hot start, the stats for Necas have not been as strong for him in the past couple of games and, coupled with the questions surrounding the second line, there have once again been murmurs around whether he would best be deployed on the second line and/or the second power play unit. Doing so would arguably give each line and each unit a strong zone-entry with speed and a high-level playmaker who can feed his linemates for many high-danger scoring chances.
Does Necas hold the deployment cards?
While there has been no indication from the coaching staff that they have considered moving Necas off of the top line and/or top power play unit, some fans on social media and even some media members have begun to wonder whether that has more to do with Necas’ contract situation rather than making the decision on what is best for the team. Since Necas clearly desires to be one of the marquee players on the team, he would likely see any significant time on the second line or second power play unit as a demotion or as a lack of trust in his skills. Thus, if he questions the team’s commitment to his role on the team, it could make him less inclined to sign a contract with the team in the near future.
Is it possible that current line tinkering between the second and third lines has less to do with them and more to do with not wanting to upset the star winger until the ink has dried on a new contract? It is doubtful that the coaching staff would actually feel beholden to such sentiments, but it will not stop those in the media and fans on social media from speculating until the deal is actually done. Until then, it is up to Necas to prove that he deserves a permanent place on Nathan MacKinnon’s wing for many years to come.